The next morning, Lena woke up early. She felt rejuvenated. She wanted to get up early to take a morning walk. Bihira kasi niya iyong magawa dahil madalas na tanghali na siya nagigising. But she couldn't move because Cyrus was still sleeping. Nahihiya naman siyang gisingin ito. Siya na nga itong nakisiksik sa higaan nito, siya pa ang manggigising dahil lamang maaga siyang nagising.

But she couldn't stay still. She needed to go to the bathroom. Kanina pa siya naiihi. Who put the AC in full blast anyway?

Ever so carefully, she wiggled out of his embrace and tiptoed to the bathroom. She emptied her bladder, combed her hair and gargled. When she went out, she saw Cyrus sitting up, hugging a pillow with his eyes closed. Nilapitan niya ito.

"Good morning," she whispered.

He murmured something unintelligible in response.

"Do you want to go for a walk?"

Umiling ito. He lied back to bed then he tapped the small space next to him.

"Do you want me to lie down?"

Nahiga siya nang tumango ito. He put the pillow he was hugging above their heads and she took the pillow's place in his arms.

"Let's sleep some more," he murmured.

Great. There goes her morning walk. But he probably didn't get enough sleep last night, all thanks to her. She evaded his personal space for her own comfort. The least she could do is let him sleep for another hour or two.

"Pero 'yong Kowloon Park..." bulong niya sa sarili.

"Do you want to go there?" When she nodded, she heard him sigh and say, "All right. Sunod na lang tayo sa kanila sa Singapore mamayang gabi."

--

Julie got angry with the impromptu change of plans. Hindi rin agad nakapuntang Kowloon park ang dalawa dahil hindi naman nila sinabihan ang mga ito. Tulog kasi sila buong umaga. She kept on apologizing to Julie but the latter kept on telling her that it's not her fault. Kanina pa nagtatalo ang magpinsan.

"Should we do something?" she asked Blake, who's just watching on one corner.

"Hayaan mo lang sila. Mapapagod din 'yang mga 'yan."

The argument lasted for another thirty minutes before the two finally reached an agreement. Gabi na raw sila aalis papuntang Singapore, pero libre ni Cyrus lahat ng kakainin nila pagdating doon for one whole day. She had a feeling that Julie would be willing to sacrifice her figure just to spite her cousin.

They headed to Kowloon Park later that day. Kaunting oras lang sila doon tapos ay dumiretso na sila sa airport. She was grateful for Blake for being there. Ito kasi ang nag-asikaso ng lahat kaya walang hassle. She realized that while Julie planned everything, Blake was the one who made sure that the plan's executed well. That's why she admires the two of them. They're not only romantically compatible. Ramdam din niyang magiging maayos ang buhay ng dalawa because one knows how to plan their future together and the other makes sure that whatever goal they set will be met.

Samantalang siya, young adult na pero wala pa ring plano sa buhay. She doesn't want to plan her life. It's in her nature as an artist to be spontaneous. Kung saan lang dalhin ng hangin. But it's nice to have plans sometimes.

Martin has lots of plans, plans for him and Lacey.

Martin na naman. She shook Martin out of her head.

"What's wrong?" Cyrus asked.

"Nothing." Sumandal siya rito at saka pumikit. It's only a few hours of non-stop flight from Hong Kong to Singapore but she needed to nap again. Being near Cyrus makes her sleepy. His scent seems to have a drugging effect on her. In no time at all, she drifted to sleep.

--

Cyrus was the one who booked a hotel when they arrived. He insisted that she sleep with Julie habang si Blake naman ang kasama nito sa kwarto. Everyone else was fine with the arrangement. Lena wasn't, but she didn't complain. As long as there's someone in bed with her, she could sleep just fine. She prefers to be with Cyrus though. Kumportable na kasi siya rito.

Twin beds din ang laman ng kwarto kagaya ng tinulugan nila sa Hong Kong, but they're slightly bigger. She didn't know if Julie would let her sleep in her bed, but she tried asking anyway. Julie was cool about it at first, pero nang hindi sila magkaayos dahil sa kalikutan niya ay kinatok na nila sina Cyrus.

She must have looked so sad for being kicked out of the bed because Julie was looking really apologetic when she was explaining the situation.

"I'm sorry, Lena. Hindi kasi ako sanay na may nakapulupot sa 'kin pagtulog. Kami nga ni Blake, magkatalikuran kung matulog, e," sabi nito sa kanya. Saka nito binalingan si Cyrus. "You'll take her in, won't you?"

"Yeah, okay," napipilitang sagot ni Cyrus.

Napipilitan man o hindi, hindi na siya nagpakabayani at sinabing matutulog na lamang siyang mag-isa. Hindi niya kaya. She blames Martin for making her like this. Hindi sana siya takot matulog mag-isa kung hindi siya nito tinakot nang tinakot noong bata pa siya.

Martin made her play a scary game on his phone. He made her watch gruesome films. Palagi rin siya nitong kinikwentuhan ng mga nakakatakot na istorya. She grew afraid of the dark and the monsters under her bed. She began imagining a lost ghost inside her closet. Kaya dati, sampung taon na siya pero nakikisiksik pa siya sa higaan ng mga magulang niya.

When Bailey came into the picture, it was a bit of a relief because she finally had someone to sleep with at night. It didn't take long for her and Bailey to form a bond. He never left her side since then.

Since the bed was larger than the one they slept on before, she gave Cyrus enough space for him to not feel suffocated. Yakap niya ang unan sa gitna nilang dalawa. She still draped her leg on his, though. Iisa lamang kasi ang unan niya.

--

Kinabukasan, maaga silang nagsigising para pumunta sa Universal Studios. Nang magtanghali, dumiretso naman sila sa People's Park para kumain. It was a cool place. Food court pero napakalinis. Mura at masarap din ang mga pagkain. Since Cyrus was paying, he took the opportunity to make her eat lots of food. Ang dami nitong in-order.

"Masamang tumanggi sa grasya," sabi nito sa kanya.

"Para naman kasing huling kain ko na," she pointed out.

"Gusto kasi ni Tita na malusog ang mamanugangin nya," singit naman ni Julie. "Inihahanda ka lang ni Cyrus."

"My mother advocates healthy eating. And so should you," said Cyrus. He pushed the plate of chinese rice noodles towards her. It was cooked on a wok earlier, tossed with lots of bean sprouts. She started picking them out.

Ibinabalik naman ni Cyrus sa pinggan niya ang mga toge na tinatanggal niya. Julie and Blake watched them in amusement.

"Ayoko ng toge," simangot niyang reklamo.

"Give it up, Lena. Hindi ka titigilan nyan hanggat hindi ka kumakain ng gulay."

"I'm very persuasive," Cyrus told her, seconding Julie's statement.

She sighed exasperatedly. Mahirap din pala itong kasama. Baka kapag tumagal, mag-away lang sila dahil sa gulay.

"If you won't eat this, then I won't let you sleep beside me tonight."

Blackmail agad!

She looked at the couple for help. Will they take her in if she begged? Kahit sa paanan lang siguro siya. Inihalo ni Cyrus ang toge sa pancit saka nito iyon kinuha gamit ang chopsticks. He pushed the food in her mouth. Nakangiwi tuloy siya habang ngumunguya.

"Kumain ka ng gulay araw-araw para masanay ka. Wala naman silang lasa, e."

"Lasang damo kaya!" Kung kasing-bango lang siguro ng karne ang mga gulay, baka matagal na siyang nahilig sa mga iyon. Ang kaso, amoy pa lang, hindi na appealing. Lasa pa kaya?

May sasabihin pa sana si Cyrus kaso ay biglang may dumating na pagkain sa table nila. Isang tray ng iba't ibang desserts, galling doon sa stall na binilhan nila kanina. The Indian guy smiled shyly at her.

"Did you order desserts?" Julie asked her.

She shook her head, but she couldn't take her eyes off of the banana fritters glazed with honey and dusted with icing sugar.

"It's on the house," the guy announced. "Hope you enjoy."

The guy addressed all of them but his gaze lingered on her. If Cyrus didn't clear his throat, he might have joined their table as well.

Nang bumalik ito sa pwesto nito ay binigyan siya ni Julie ng mapanudyong ngiti.

"I think someone has a crush on Lena."

"He'll get over it," Cyrus commented.

"He's kinda cute, though," dagdag ni Julie.

Blake joined in. "Stop it, hon. Can't you see someone's getting jealous?"

Julie regarded her cousin. "Kasi naman kayo, act a little sweeter towards each other. Kung hindi kayo mukhang mag-ama, napagkakamalan naman kayong magkapatid."

After Julie told them that, Cyrus casually draped his arm on her shoulder and pulled her close. She instantly blushed at the contact. Okay, so they cuddle at night, but that's private.

"Like this?" she heard him ask. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa naman si Julie sa ginawa ng pinsan.

She momentarily forgot about the Indian guy and his babana fritters. All she could think about was how warm Cyrus was and how good he smelled.